S 455 Reforming Airwaves by Developing Incentives and Opportunistic Sharing (RADIOS) Act

From press release:

On March 2, 2011, Sens John Kerry (D-MA) -- Chairman of the Commerce Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, and the Internet -- and Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), Senior Member of the Commerce Committee, introduced comprehensive spectrum policy reform legislation to modernize the nation’s radio spectrum planning, management, and coordination activities.

The Reforming Airwaves by Developing Incentives and Opportunistic Sharing (RADIOS) Act will set the proper foundation to meet growing demand for spectrum through greater planning and coordination and by promoting more innovative and efficient use of spectrum resources.

This legislation is a modified version of comprehensive legislation introduced by Senators Kerry and Snowe last Congress, but also includes other legislative efforts with bipartisan support and additional provisions that were developed from numerous discussions with experts in the field.

The RADIOS Act is intended to compliment the National Broadband Plan and the President’s recently announced Wireless Initiative in an effort to ensure efficient use of spectrum and create the infrastructure necessary to meet America’s future telecommunications needs. “Incentive auctions as proposed in the National Broadband Plan and the Initiative are commendable, but must be part of a more comprehensive approach by also promoting technological innovation and providing for a more robust management system.”

Specifically, the bill tasks the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to:

• Conduct a comprehensive inventory of radio spectrum and perform spectrum surveys to determine existing spectrum use (Such data would provide a more detailed and up-to-date understanding of how spectrum is currently being used and by whom -- data essential to sound policy decisions and spectrum management);
• Collaborate on spectrum policy and management-related issues, implementation of spectrum sharing and reuse programs, as well as more market-based incentives to promote efficient spectrum use.

The RADIOS Act also:

• Requires a cost-benefit analysis of spectrum relocation opportunities to move certain incumbent users and services to more efficient spectrum bands;
• Establishes Wi-Fi hot-spots and allow the installation of wireless antenna systems and base stations, such as femtocells, in all publicly accessible Federal buildings as well as streamline Federal rights-of-way and wireless tower sitings on Federal buildings.